Case Study #10: Coca-Cola HBC Warehouse Logistics with AR Picking and Edge AI

In this case study, we examine how Coca-Cola HBC modernized warehouse logistics by replacing paper-based and handheld picking workflows with augmented reality and edge-enabled wearable systems. By combining smart glasses, local device logic, and TeamViewer Frontline vision picking, the bottler created a hands-free process that improves speed, accuracy, and worker ergonomics in high-volume beverage operations.

Coca-Cola HBC's warehouse teams were dealing with the familiar limitations of pick-by-paper and handheld RF scanner workflows in mixed pallet environments.

Accuracy Bottlenecks: Manual picking methods increased the risk of quantity and product errors, leading to returns, rework, and customer dissatisfaction.

Safety and Ergonomics: Handheld scanners and paper lists forced workers to dedicate a hand and part of their attention to the device instead of the physical movement of heavy crates and packs.

Training Time: New workers had to learn warehouse routes, SKUs, and pick logic the hard way. The AR interface reduced training time by 30% by showing step-by-step visual instructions in context.

The shift to AR-supported picking changed both the accuracy profile and the pace of warehouse execution.

Accuracy Peak: TeamViewer reports that Coca-Cola HBC reached 99.99% picking accuracy after roughly two months of deployment.

Productivity Boost: TeamViewer also says picking performance increased by 6% to 10% because workers located items faster and no longer depended on paper workflows.

Real-Time Inventory Flow: Because the AR workflow is integrated with warehouse systems, confirmation data can flow back immediately as items are picked, improving inventory visibility and reducing fulfillment friction.

CAPEX Efficiency: TeamViewer's case study notes that the solution was cost-effective relative to maintaining or renewing traditional rugged handheld hardware fleets.

The deployment depends on specialized wearable hardware and a warehouse software layer that keeps instructions with the worker instead of on a distant terminal.

Hardware: Smart Glasses: Coca-Cola HBC used industrial AR smart glasses for vision picking workflows, giving warehouse staff a hands-free interface directly in their field of view.

On-Device Scanning and Guidance: The wearable setup supports immediate confirmation and visual navigation without forcing the operator back to separate paper or handheld tools.

Software: TeamViewer Frontline Pick: The vision picking application delivers the AR picking interface and workflow logic used in the warehouse.

Enterprise Integration: TeamViewer states the system integrates with warehouse management systems so task data flows to the glasses and confirmations flow back into logistics operations in real time.

For Coca-Cola HBC, the edge is the worker's line of sight on the warehouse floor. By putting instructions, confirmations, and navigation cues directly into a wearable interface, the company reduced friction at the exact moment a picker needs to act. That creates a practical "hands-free logistics" model where speed, ergonomics, and accuracy reinforce each other.

This article was compiled using TeamViewer's official Coca-Cola HBC customer success material, TeamViewer Frontline platform pages describing warehouse picking performance, and Coca-Cola HBC's 2022 Hungary logistics announcement about AI-supported warehouse operations.